12 Quotes & Sayings By Steve Buscemi

Steven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi is an American actor, known for his work in independent and blockbuster Hollywood films. He began acting in the late 1970s and gained recognition with his role as Nino Brown in the 1983 film "The Godfather Part III", a role that won him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to appear in films such as "The Big Lebowski" (1998) and "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), and has worked frequently with director Quentin Tarantino (who cast him as Mr. Pink and Mr Read more

Blonde). At the time of the filming of "Reservoir Dogs", he was one of only two actors who had appeared in all three films by John Waters: "Pink Flamingos", "Serial Mom", and "Hairspray". In a 2018 interview, Buscemi said that he was told by Weinstein that he should be cast as a lead character in a Harvey Weinstein feature film. In 2013, Buscemi's longtime friend, college classmate, and fellow actor Peter Bogdanovich expressed regret that he had not worked with Buscemi more often since they first met on the set of the 1982 film "Taps".

The two have co-starred together in five other movies: "The Last Detail"; "Shadows and Fog"; "The Big Lebowski"; "Fading Gigolo"; and "A Life Less Ordinary".

1
There’s something about being naïve. Really interesting things come because you don’t know what the rules are, what you can and can’t do. Steve Buscemi
2
Bob Altman had this relaxed but serious attitude. Everybody loved him. I wanted him to adopt me. Steve Buscemi
3
There's a certain type of character that you can't help but come in contact with growing up and living in Brooklyn and Long Island. A certain mixture of moxie, heart, and a wise guy sense of humor. Steve Buscemi
4
I read the script and decide if a particular character looks fun to play. I look for complexity and a sense of humor. Those are crucial, real things to life. Steve Buscemi
5
I just like playing interesting, complex, complicated characters. I like films that also have an element of humor. Steve Buscemi
6
Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. I was so involved with the visual and technical aspects that I would forget about the actors. Steve Buscemi
7
What was frustrating about Armageddon was the time I spent not doing anything. It was a big special effects film, and I wasn't crazy about pretending I was in outer space. It feels ridiculous. Steve Buscemi
8
Growing up, yeah, I had a magic kit with learn tricks and learn card tricks, but I was never... I used to watch whatever magic special was on as a kid, but then, it's not that I lost interest, but to be a magician, you really, it's really hard work. Learning lines is hard enough; learning sleight of hand, that's real practice. Steve Buscemi
9
When I moved to the East Village in the late seventies, I wanted to be a street performer, so I practiced daily. I never did work up the skills or the courage to perform on the street, though. Steve Buscemi
10
The thrill of performing - that's something that hasn't changed for me. That simultaneous joy of creating something and sharing it with an audience - it's the same now as it was then, when it was just my cousins' birthday party. Steve Buscemi
11
I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like they don't fit into society, because I still sort of feel that way. Steve Buscemi